In Darkness Reborn (19 page)

“You know what I don't like, Barak? I don't like people making decisions about what's right for me. I may not be ready to go dancing down the streets screaming that I'm dating an Other, but at least I'm not slamming the door on the possibility.” She stood up. “I hope you and Devlin are happy together, although I suspect Laurel is the jealous type. She's not going to like being part of a threesome.”

Lacey walked away, her back ramrod straight.

The weapons on Devlin's wall rattled on their hooks when she slammed the door. He wanted to charge after her and drag her back to convert her anger to another, more palatable, form of passion. The image was so real that when the door opened, he was half convinced that she'd had a change of heart.

But it was only Devlin returning to reclaim his office. He wasn't even trying to hide his grin. “I don't know what you did to get on that woman's shit list, but for Pete's sake, don't let me do it.”

“Shut up, Devlin. We haven't been fair to her.”

“How so?”

“We forced my presence on her. All she wants to do is make your world safer for her brother. She shouldn't have to sleep with the enemy to get enough money to do the job.” A poor choice of words, but that didn't make it less true.

Devlin's hand snaked out to grab Barak by the shirtfront. “And did she sleep with the enemy, Barak? I sent you over there to learn a job, not to seduce your boss.”

The Paladin's touch triggered all of Barak's frustration and anger. Devlin's superior size made little difference to a man who had lost everything—home, family, lover. Barak brought his fist up, connecting with Devlin's jaw with a satisfying crack. When Devlin's head snapped back, Barak broke loose from his grasp, following up with a kick aimed right at Devlin's groin.

The Paladin hadn't spent his life fighting without learning a few dirty tricks. He blocked Barak's kick with one of his own, sending Barak stumbling back to land on a chair with a crash. Barak ignored the pain in his back and surged to his feet, intent on doing Devlin some serious harm.

Neither of them noticed the door opening again as they each jockeyed for position, looking for a weakness in their opponent's defenses. As they circled the room, a female stepped between them. It took Barak two more steps before he recognized it as Lacey.

“Lacey, out!” He knew she didn't much like taking orders, but now was not the time for polite conversation.

“I'm not going anywhere.” She kept moving, doing her best to stay between the two men.

“Damn it, woman, get out of the way!” Devlin barked.

“No.” She planted her feet and stood her ground. With her hands on her hips and meeting them glare for glare, it was easy to see that the blood of warriors ran true in her family. She was irresistible: a woman at her strongest, ready to do battle to protect those she cared about.

The two men had no choice but to surrender. Neither would risk accidentally hurting her, and she knew it, too. When they each backed up a step and dropped their hands at their sides, she smiled.

“Now, care to explain this exhibition of stupidity?” She tapped her foot and waited for a reply.

“We had a slight disagreement.”

She eyed the broken chair and the scattered trash from the wastebasket they'd knocked over. “Oh? I'd hate to see what would happen if you two decided to actually
fight
about something.”

Devlin dabbed at the blood dripping from a split lip. “So, Lacey, did you forget something?”

“Yes, I did. I got halfway back to my office and realized I'd left something in your office that belongs to me.”

Barak looked around the room but saw nothing. “I don't see anything.”

“That's because you're not looking in a mirror.” Then she gave him a gentle shove toward the door. “Come on. You've got work to do.”

“I'll still need him.” Devlin followed them out of his office. “We've got a special project that requires his expertise.”

“Yeah, and I can see how well the two of you work together. Call me and we'll negotiate.”

Trahern loomed up from down the hallway. As usual he saw way too much. “So, Devlin, you back to having hands-on discussions again? Last time you damn near broke my jaw, and both Cullen and D.J. were moving slowly for two days.”

Barak and Devlin told Trahern to go to hell at the same time, setting off a round of laughter. Doing his best to ignore both Paladins, Barak marshaled his dignity and followed Lacey down the hall.

But he couldn't be too angry. Right in front of the biggest, baddest Paladins around, she'd admitted that Barak belonged to her.

H
ey, Penn, what's happening?”

Penn kept his eyes on his beer, debating whether he wanted to drink another one. If he left now, he'd be able to catch the beginning of a preseason football game.

Ben Jackson's unexpected arrival pretty much made the decision for him. The last thing he wanted right now was to sit and listen to the man bitch about his job some more. It was ironic that Ben had a job he hated but could walk away from anytime he wanted to. Penn had a job he loved, and he was going to be shoved out the door any day now.

The last couple of sparring matches with Barak had not gone well. He didn't need the Other's sympathy, but he could see it in Barak's expression every time Penn made a poor showing with his right hand. His left hand was definitely getting stronger, but there was no way he was ever going to be as comfortable fighting from that side.

Barak kept telling him to give himself time, but Devlin had made it clear that Penn's time was limited. Barak's claim that he could see some improvement might buy Penn some leeway, but being indebted to an Other stuck in Penn's craw big-time.

At least he wasn't so drunk that he didn't realize that there was something wrong about Ben's unexpected appearance. This wasn't the bar close to the Center. It was a good distance away from where they both worked, and not particularly close to where Penn lived. Penn could hold his own among the bar's rough clientele, but Ben was clearly out of his element.

Keeping his expression neutral, Penn glanced at his unwanted companion. Ben was nervous and doing a piss-poor job of hiding it. Something had the man by the ass, but what? Or who? Either way, it shouldn't have anything to do with Penn, but it did. Otherwise Ben wouldn't keep hunting him down and inflicting his sweaty, nervous self on Penn's downtime.

“What do you want, Ben?” Penn didn't bother sounding polite or interested.

Ben winced, his smile slipping for only a second before he managed to shore up its edges. “I want a cold beer. I haven't thought much beyond that part.”

“Well, have a nice time.” Penn slid off his stool and signaled the bartender he wanted to pay up.

“What's your hurry, Penn? I just got here and wouldn't mind some company.” The older man started to reach for Penn's arm to prevent him from leaving. When Penn shot him an angry look, he thought better of it. “At least have one for the road.”

“Sorry, no can do.” Penn gave up waiting on his bill and walked down the bar to toss a five down on the counter.

“Got big plans?” Ben trailed right along behind him.

“No, this place has suddenly lost its appeal.” Maybe the truth would get through to the idiot.

His shot scored a bull's-eye, judging by the way Ben flushed red hot. “What's the matter, Penn? Too good to hang out with a mere mortal?”

Great. All he needed was for word to get back to Devlin that he'd pushed this sweating pig into outing the Paladins. Already they were drawing too much attention to themselves. He made a grab for Ben, planning on dragging him outside. In a move surprisingly quick for his size, Ben danced back out of reach.

“Go on home, Penn, and drink alone. See if I give a rip.” He lumbered back up on his barstool and reached for the beer the bartender had set there.

Before turning to leave, Penn waited a second or two to make sure that Ben was going to behave. He'd gone no more than a step or two before Ben launched a final attack of his own.

“Of course, I'd be drinking, too, if my pretty little sister was doing the dirty with a fucking Other.” He laughed as if he'd told a great joke. “I guess in your sister's case, he really
is
a fucking Other.”

Penn wanted to kill the bastard on the spot, but his Paladin loyalties kicked in, reminding him that the priority was to maintain secrecy above all else, even defending Lacey's honor. That time would come. Luckily, this wasn't the kind of bar that objected to settling an argument with your fists as long as you took it somewhere else.

“Come on, Ben, I'll make sure you get home. You're spoiling for a fight, but I'm not going to give you one.” With a nod to the bartender, assuring the man that any further discussion would take place outside, Penn strong-armed Ben toward the door.

Ben, however, had just realized that he'd opened his big mouth once too often—and that he'd forgotten just how strong a Paladin was, especially one who was in fight mode.

He tried to pull away from Penn. “I'm sorry, Penn. It was the beer talking, I swear.” He stumbled along, pleading for mercy. “How was I to know you approved of your sister's new boy toy?”

That was the last thing Ben had to say on the matter. Penn made sure of it with a good left hook before shoving Ben into the backseat of his own car. Penn had caught a ride to the bar with another Paladin, so at least he didn't have to worry about getting two vehicles home. He fished out Ben's keys and started the car.

After driving a couple of blocks, Penn pulled over to the curb and hit Devlin's number on the speed dial of his cell phone.

Bane answered on the second ring. He didn't sound happy, but then he never did. “What now, Penn?”

“I've got one question for you, Bane. Did you promise that Other my sister if he'd leave your woman alone? Because if you did, I'll
kill
you.” He hated that his hands were shaking.

“NO, I SURE AS HELL DIDN'T!” Bane yelled so loud that Penn had to hold the phone away from his ear. “I have more respect for your sister than that, even if she does have an idiot for a brother. Where the hell did you get that stupid idea?”

Penn wasn't sure if he believed the older Paladin or just wanted to. “Ben Jackson followed me to an out-of-the-way bar, trying to get all friendly again. When I made it clear I wasn't interested, he told me that Barak was fucking my sister.”

“Son of a bitch, where are you now? Do I need to come bail you out?” His voice made it clear that he wasn't kidding.

“No, I got him out of the bar before I cold-cocked him. Right now he's throwing up in the backseat of his own car.”

“I'll call Trahern and we'll meet you at Jackson's place. Maybe if we get him into his own apartment and pour more liquor in him, he'll wake up thinking it was all a bad dream.”

“Except for the bruises after I finish beating the crap out of him.” Penn rolled down the windows to diffuse the sour smell of the drunk in the backseat.

“Penn!” The warning was clear.

“I was just kidding. Sort of. I got his address off his license.” He read it off as he started the car again.

“Thanks. Give us fifteen minutes to meet you there.”

“Will do.”

Of course he couldn't help it if Ben picked up a few more injuries stumbling out of the car and into his apartment. No, he'd wait until after he found out for certain if Barak had been hitting on Lacey. If not, then Ben deserved to be beaten within an inch of his miserable life. If he was telling the truth, Penn would end Barak's existence once and for all.

After glancing back at his disgusting passenger, Penn decided he'd kill the messenger for good measure.

Barak looked up when the lab door opened to reveal Devlin Bane, a grim expression on his face. His arrival so soon after Lacey's leaving for a meeting with Dr. Louis seemed a little too convenient to be a coincidence. What was wrong now?

Then Devlin tossed an envelope on the counter and waited for Barak to pick it up. One look was enough to know it had come from the other side of the barrier. Barak let his fingers trace the letters on the outside as he recognized the anger in his sister's handwriting.

He smiled, picturing the frown on her face as she'd responded to his request. She alone of their family had resisted his banishment, begging him to choose differently. And when his honor had made that impossible, she had turned her back and closed her eyes so that he no longer existed in her world. Or any other.

Well aware of the impatient Paladin hovering over his shoulder, he gently peeled back the flap on the envelope and opened it. The paper inside was definitely of his world and no matter what his sister had written in her role of commander, he cherished the small connection with her.

“She makes it clear that she is unwilling to trust anyone from this world. However, she will meet with me. I'm to cross at the same point where I entered your world.” He looked at Devlin. “I will be allowed to stay only until the next time the barrier flickers long enough for me to cross back.”

Devlin smacked his hand down on the counter. “No, she comes here. I won't ask you to risk your life that way.”

“She will keep me safe.” At least she'd try, but there was no sense in letting Devlin know he doubted her ability to protect him from the rabid factions among their people.

Running his fingers through his hair in frustration, Devlin paced the room and back. “And what makes you think we can trust her to keep her word? Who is this woman, anyway?”

“Her name is Lusahn.” Barak once again traced her name with his fingers. “She is a leader among my people…and she is my sister.”

Devlin clearly hadn't expected that. He pulled up a stool and sat down next to Barak. “We've never talked about why you left your world.”

“No, and we're not going to. My reasons are my own. I won't betray my people.” He'd die first, even though this world had given him new reasons to live.

“I guess I can deal with that. I know you're willing to go back for this, Barak, but I won't ask it of you until you've had a chance to think about it. As unstable as the barrier has been, the chances are you'd only be there for a short time, maybe even only a couple of hours…”

Barak took over. “But it could be days or weeks, and the longer I'm over there, the higher the risk. I know all of that.”

“Let's contact her again. Tell her that it's imperative that we meet here or it's no dice.”

“She won't come. I will go to her. She will take us more seriously if there is risk involved on our side.” He pushed the letter back in front of Devlin. “I will do this for my people, Devlin.”

“We'll meet in my office after you're finished here today. Maybe some of the other guys can come up with some ideas.”

“All right. I'll be there.”

Devlin picked up the letter and stuffed it in his pocket. “One more thing, Barak. Ben Jackson got a little drunk last night and told Penn that you and Lacey were sleeping together. Any reason he should think that?”

A sense of foreboding settled in Barak's chest. “No, I don't know why he would say that.” Unless he'd been right about someone watching his apartment the night that Lacey had stayed over.

“What did Penn say?”

“He didn't kill the stupid bastard, which he would have if he'd actually believed Ben was telling the truth.” Devlin's green eyes took on a definite chill. “Whatever you and Lacey have been doing is none of my business, but—”

Barak rose to his feet, meeting Devlin's rock-hard gaze head-on. “That's exactly right. And Lacey doesn't deserve to be the subject of gossip.”

“No, she doesn't. But if her name is linked with yours, it will make her life miserable, not to mention yours. People are just now getting used to having you around.”

Devlin wasn't saying anything Barak didn't already know. He'd only hoped that this day would have come later rather than sooner. “People cannot fault us for the time here at work. She gave me a ride home from your place, and we've been to the mountains on business. That, and the two trips down into the tunnels, are the extent of our relationship.”

Devlin wasn't buying it. “I'm not your judge or jury, Barak. At least use some discretion. Ben had to have seen something or he wouldn't have felt so confident in shooting his mouth off to Penn. We've been suspicious that this guy was trying to get something from Penn, only we don't know what. He sure didn't win any points by making these accusations to Lacey's brother.”

The two of them were so intent on their discussion that neither of them heard Lacey walk in. “What accusations to my brother?”

Devlin muttered a vicious curse before turning to face her. It was the second time in two days that the two of them were on opposite sides of a discussion.

“If you can tell Barak about it, you can tell me. He's not my protector.”

“No, the question is whether or not he's your lover.”

Barak might have been able to fool Devlin, but the stricken look on Lacey's face had the truth written all over it. The Paladin immediately let loose with a tirade of obscenities.

“Bane, shut your mouth. Regardless of what you know or think you know, you do NOT speak that way in front of Lacey.” If it took another fight to convince him of that truth, Barak was prepared to start swinging.

Lacey stepped past Devlin to stand next to Barak, seeking his support. “Who's been making accusations, Barak? Who knew?”